Rafael Palmeiro still lives with a tarnished reputation
Rafael Palmeiro had one of the greatest statistical careers in MLB history, but also holds the title of a steroid user.
Major League Baseball is just over a decade removed from the steroid scandal that threatened to ruin the reputation of the entire league.
Players like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, and Rafael Palmeiro were all reported to have used performance-enhancing drugs, but Palmeiro made another, graver mistake. Not only did he take drugs, he lied about taking drugs.
In 2005, in front of Congress, Palmeiro made it clear he had never used steroids. Midway through the 2005 season, he tested positive for steroids, effectively ruining one of the greatest careers of the past few decades.
Fox Sports ran a story on how Palmeiro must live his positive test, and how he was essentially given up on by then-MLB Commissioner Bud Selig.
Selig did not have much of a choice at that point. His league was under great scrutiny, as some of the top players in the game were proven to be cheaters, one of the gravest sins in professional sports.
Palmeiro finished his career with 3,020 hits and 569 home runs, but has received minimal support from Hall of Fame voters since he became eligible, falling off the ballot because of the low percentage of people who still voted for him after the positive test.
Palmeiro’s return to the spotlight this week highlights how much fans hate liars. Alex Rodriguez admitted — though long after the fact — that he took steroids, and the fans in New York still cheer him on like nothing happened. He went through a rough period of time before and during his suspension, but he still made his way back on the field.
Mark McGwire is another name often associated with steroid use, but he eventually admitted to using steroids. He also never lied to Congress. This is why McGwire currently finds himself as a coach in the MLB, for the San Diego Padres, while Palmeiro is out of baseball entirely.
Palmeiro’s fate is similar to that of Pete Rose. It just goes to show how much lying can tarnish an otherwise fantastic career.